Naming a Child or a Person

Summary

This article examines the elaborate rules governing personal names in early Indian society. Drawing on the Grhya‑sutras and Vedic literature, it shows that a person traditionally had four names: one derived from the birth‑star (nakshatra) or presiding deity, a secret mystical name known only to gods, a public name used in daily life, and a fourth name acquired through ritual, such as performing a Soma sacrifice. Texts like the Vaikhanasa Smarta Sutra and passages from the Rgveda describe names like Agnicit, Vajapeyakrt and Somayaji that signal ritual status. The article also discusses the abhivadaniya or gotra name, a family identifier used when greeting elders, and explains how names were derived from deities or constellations. Over time, devotional names such as those of Viṣṇu and Śiva came into general use, although some authorities initially discouraged direct use of gods’ names. Later Smriti writers prescribed that names should be auspicious, of appropriate length, and reflect social class. The addition of suffixes like Sarman, Varman, Gupta and Dasa marked personal or occupational distinctions. By tracing these conventions, the article illuminates the intersection of astrology, ritual, lineage and social aspiration in the naming practices of ancient India.